“The ‘generational struggle’ against terrorism described in ‘The 9/11 Commission Report’ is far from over,” the panel said this week in reference to its assessment a decade earlier. “Rather, it is entering a new and dangerous phase, and America cannot afford to let down its guard.”

Its bottom line assessment? “Strenuous counterterrorism efforts will remain a fact of our national life for the foreseeable future.”[…]

Yep, pretty much what I said.

Here are some things that worked:

[…] Going after al Qaeda’s leadership

The immediate reaction to the hijack attacks that toppled the World Trade Center towers and damaged the Pentagon targeted the culprit — the al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden operating out of Afghanistan near the Pakistani border.

Years of war in Afghanistan ended the safe haven there for terrorists and achieved the goal of degrading al Qaeda’s core, the report said. U.S. special forces eventually killed bin Laden in Pakistan.

[…]

Expanded government

The Department of Homeland Security. The director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center. The Transportation Security Administration. The FBI National Security Branch and the military’s Cyber Command.

All exist in response to the 9/11 attacks as part of an unprecedented expansion and reorganization of government security resources. […]

The article also mentioned air travel and the NSA, though I imagine people might have varying opinions on the NSA at this point. And, of course, there is “The American Spirit“:

[…] “This year’s triumphant (Boston) marathon sent an unmistakable message to the world: Americans will not bend to terrorism,” the report said, adding that “the country must continue to prepare for the unforeseen, but it appears to be moving in the right direction.” […]

That is one thing you gotta give Americans – we do have that “indomitable spirit” thing going for us. That’s just how we roll.

And then there are some of the things that haven’t worked over the past ten years:

[…] The new report’s biggest takeaway? Tell the people what they need to know.

Prior to the 9/11 attacks, “the government did not effectively explain to the public the evil that was stalking us,” it said. “We fear that this is happening again.” (Emphasis mine.)

On major issues of the day — a transformed and resurging al Qaeda, the growing terrorist haven spawned by the Syrian conflict, increasing cyber threats — “public awareness lags behind official Washington’s,” it said.

“If this gap persists, the political support for needed national security capabilities will fade,” the report continued. “In today’s very dangerous world, that is something we can ill afford.”

No kidding that is not something we can afford to have happen in, and for this country.

But wait, there is more, and I am sure this will be a surprise to no one here as to one of the things that has not worked:

Efforts to reduce Islamic extremism

Islamic extremism has increased in the past decade, the report said.

“While al Qaeda’s various affiliates are enmeshed in their own local conflicts, hatred of the United States remains a common thread,” it added, citing the emergence of groups such as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Al Shabaab and Boko Haram.

“Partly, this is a consequence of the Arab Spring and the power vacuums and ungoverned spaces that have sprung up in its wake,” it said. “Partly, it is the result of America’s inability or reluctance to exert power and influence in a number of places.”

[…]

A State Department official warned a congressional committee on Wednesday that “ISIS is al Qaeda.”

“It may have changed its name, it may have broken with senior al Qaeda leadership such as Ayman al-Zawahiri, but it is al Qaeda in its doctrine, ambition and increasingly in its threat to U.S. interests,” said Brett McGurk, the deputy assistant secretary for Iraq and Iran. “In fact it is worse than al Qaeda.” […]

I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED, I tell you, to learn all of this. Oh, wait, no I’m not. Unlike some in this Administration, I actually read and watch the news (talking about you, Obama).

And come to think of it, perhaps that State Department Official might want to make sure President Obama and Vice President Biden understand about ISIS = Al Qaeda because both of them CONVINCED that Al Qaeda is on the run:

Uh, yeah, except not so much. Make that, not at all. How, HOW, can Obama continue to be SO wrong and still have SO much support? Boggles the mind.

The CNN article also mentions Congress as being something that doesn’t work, and that could be a dissertation unto itself. But then it goes onto where we go from here, including:

Prepare better for cyber attacks […], Use of military powers […], and Vigilance: The biggest threat to America is failing to recognize the threat still exists and is growing.

“Many Americans think that the terrorist threat is waning—that, as a country, we can begin turning back to other concerns,” the report said. “They are wrong.”

The threat remains “grave,” it continued, warning “we cannot afford to be complacent—vigorous counterterrorism efforts are as important as ever.”

In particular, the report said, “young Americans need to know that terrorism is not going away.” (Again, emphasis mine.) (Click here to read the rest of the article.)

That pretty much says it all – terrorism is not going away, it is on the rise, and we need to be prepared and vigilant. Let’s hope our leaders take note, especially when choosing sides to support, say, Hamas over Israel. Just a thought.

I think they are too Foxy. I think part of the reason is that instead of leaders we have politicians. All politics all the time. That leaves the world in a mess and most of the people without access to anything resmebling the truth.

You certainly can’t find it on television. I have turned off all television news for the last 5 days. I don’t need to listen to a bunch of hawks like Krauthammer blaming Russia for all the ills of the world while never mentioning that a good share of what happened in Ukraine was because of our incessent and evil meddling.

I haven’t DVRd Outnumbered, Cavuto, or Special Report. I quit watching The Five weeks ago. They offer nothing new or worthwhile as far as I’m concerned. A few wonderful rants by Gutfeld are not worth listening to Beckel or any of the others for that matter.

I’ve spent my free time reading instead of watching a bunch of pundidiots pontificating and my blood pressure is the better for it.I can find anything worthwhile on-line and not have to wade through minutes of garbage to see and hear it. At my time of life I don’t want to waste any of the precious minutes I have left with swill.

Funny thing, I reread one of my all time favorite books, Dark Rivers of the Heart by one of my all time favorite authors, Dean Koontz. If you want to read something that sounds terrifyingly like some of what is happening in this country and around the world at this time, read Dark Rivers of the Heart. It will scare the pants off you!

Dang, didn’t mean to go on and on – is this a comment or a book? Sorry.

Ame, thank you for bringing this report to the forefront. I was only vaguely aware of it. BTW, on the way out the door to work this morning I caught the tail end of a report that said requests for U.S. funding of Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile shield was “dead in the Senate.” Do you know anything more about that?

And kudos to Ted Cruz for putting a hold on some appointments until he gets more info on why the FAA warned off American air traffic in and out of Tel Aviv. CNN is, of course, falling all over itself praising the FAA. But if that short report I heard about Iron Dome funding is correct then it just shows that the U.S. under Obama is continuing with its economic blackmail of Israel.

Speaking of the FAA and Obama, you know he continues to defend that decision as the right thing to do. So, big surprise that CNN is falling all over itself praising the FAA. It seems that whenever a news outlet actually reports something serious, like the 9/11 Commission Report, they bend over backwards to make it up to Obama. UGH.

But yes – good for Cruz for doing his job. That is the role of the US Senate, to be deliberative and thoughtful not just ramming things through willy nilly.

When I saw the following image it really made me think. It made me think about the trash that call these patriotic American citizens extremist. Trash like Obama and Pelosi and Reid. Trash like Schumer and Durbin and all the blithering idiots in the pundidiocy.

Trash like Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow and idiot supreme Lawrence O’Donnell. I am disgusted with them and support and am proud of Tea Party Patriots like those in the following images.

Just a quick note in a brief lull of a massive thunderstorm system… Thanks for he comments, which I read on my old phone (and m responding from same). I will look at the links y’all sent after dinner, weather permitting.

And Marge, I totally understand abt watching the news v. Checking things out online. And you are right abt priorities and blood pressure, too. Good on ya!

It simply defies logic, Marge, but yet, the majority of the Left supports Palestine, ergo Hamas. Chesler said what I mentioned in a comment at The Hill yesterday that these people attacking Israel and being so anti-Semitic are supporting people who treat women like crap HATE gays (to put it mildly), and more.

And of course, as we know, they have just in this year started speaking out abt Sharia Law. That said, now they use it to attack not the perpetrators of Sharia Law, but SCOTUS (thinking of you, Hillary). It is just amazing…”’

Chesler is truly a voice crying out in the wilderness. Thank heavens for her strength and courage in speaking out so forcefully on this issue.